Folding carton having reclosable pouring spout



July 12, 1949.

W. A. RINGLER FOLDING CARTON HAVING RECLOSABLE POURING SPOUT Filed D90. 7, 1946 I INVENTOR- Mumw r7. /t/NGL 6f. By W af'ronuswrs.

Patented July 12,1949

FOLDING CARTON HAVING BECLDSABLE POURING SPOUT William A. Ringler, Wayne, Pa., assignmto The Gardner Board and Carton 00., a-corporatlon of Ohio Application December I, 1946, Serial No. 714,817

3 Claims.

It has hitherto been suggested that a pouring spout or access opening may be formed in tubular paperboard cartons by providing a line for severance across meet the body walls and extending into the two adjacent body walls. It pressure is applied to the portions of the adjacent body walls below the line for severance, once severance has been efiected, a portion of the first mentioned body Wall will pop outwardly, forming aspout from which the contents of the carton may be dispensed.

Such constructions have the advantage that the pouring spout is formed entirely by cutting and scoring rules in the manufacture of the carton. The lines of score and the lines for severance concerned with the provision of the pouring spout are confined entirely to body walls of the structure. The carton is handled and closed in the ordinary way as though it did not have a pouring spout; and'n'o difliculty is had with such operations as spot gluing, the removal of diedout parts, and the like. Moreover, there is no structure to be set up by manipulations including folding and tucking on the. part of the user of the carton.

My invention relates to pouring spouts of similar character in that they are formed in and from a body wall of the carton and require for their provision nothing more than suitable variations in the dies for cutting and scoring the cartons.

It is my object, however, to provide a pouring spout having a number of advantages not hitherto attained in the art. it is my object to provide a pouring spout for which the opening is confined to a single wall of the carton so that none of the contents of the carton during pouring can leave otherwise than by the spout.

It is an object of my invention to provide a construction in which the walls adjacent the one in which the spout is formed are imperiorate and continue to act as a protection to the contents of the carton in spite of the displacement which occurs upon opening the spout.

It is an object of my invention to provide a construction in which the spout is more readily and positively closable after a portion of the contents has been dispensed and in which the closed condition of the carton affords better subsequent protection to the contents.

It is an object of my invention to provide a construction in which the displacement of adjacent walls during the opening of the spout provides a relationship of parts such that the end of the pouring spout upon closure will engage behind abutment means with a positive locking action to maintain a closed condtion of the pouring spout and to restore the carton substantially to its original unopened appearance.

These and other objects of the invention which will be set forth hereinafter or will be apparent to one skilled in the art upon reading these specifia cations, I accomplish by that certain construction and arrangement 01' parts of which I shall now set forth an exemplary embodiment. Reference is made to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the blank for a carton embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the erected carton in filled and closed condition.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the carton with the pouring spout open.

In Figure 1 I have shown a blank for a tubular knock-down paperboard container having body walls i, 2, 3 and 4 and a glue flap 5; These parts are in articulation along longitudinal score lines 8. l, 8 and 9. The ends of the body walls bear closure flaps H) to H inclusive articulated to the body walls along score lines l8 and i9 respectively. The structure thus far described is a tubular carton of ordinary seal-end style. It may be tubed on the usual carton folding and gluing machines by being bent along the longitudinal score lines ii and 8 with the adhesive union of the glue flap 5 to the free edge of the wall 0., In this condition the carton will be shipped to the user, who will erect it, close an end, fill it. and close the opposite end, all as has hitherto been current in the art, and using the standard mechanisms of the art for the purpose.

For a pouring spout I provide the following additional structure in the carton blank. A transverse score line 20 extends across the body wall 3 at a point intermediate its ends, and from the points of intersection of this score line with the score lines I! and t, additional score lines 2i and 22 extend to a point 23 at or near an end of the wall. Score lines 20, 2i and 22 form a triangular configuration as shown. The point 23 may be located on the score line 18 or may be spaced somewhat below it.

From points marked it and 25 on the score lines 7 and 8 above the score line 20,1 carry lines for severance 26 and 21 to the point 23. These linesare angularly related to each other. They may be formed in any desired way, but are preferably formed by the use of perforating rules on the carton die. From the points 24 and 25 to the far upper corners of walls 2 and t, I carry score lines it snare slantwise, as shown. It is also of advantage to provide short diagonal score lines 30 and 3! connecting the upper corners 0f the wall 3' with the lines for severance 26 and 21.

Figure 2 shows the filled and closed carton in the condition in which it carries its contents to the ultimate consumer. All that is required to effect a pouring opening in this structure is the exertion of inward pressure on portions, of the walls 2 and 4 approximately indicated in Figure 1 at A and B. When th'ispressure is exerted. the board parts along the lines for severance 28 and 21. The upper portions of the walls 2 and I flex inwardly, the/board bending along as will be evident. Upon release of the "pressure at the points A and B, the sprlnglness of the board will tend to close the pouring spout, as will be seen. But the user will also press inwardly'upon the pouring spout bringing it to a position in the same plane with the remainder of wall 3 or slightly inwardly of that plane. The flexing of the upper portions of the walls 2 and 4 tends to bring the end of the top of the carton somewhat downwardly out of its normal plane. Hence, the peak of the pouring spout C. D, E, when depressed inwardly, will be locked in position. The peaked end of the pouring spout will have to bend slightly to accommodate the downward depression of the top of the carton aforesaid. This will not only provide a frictional engagement, but portions of the pouring spout adjacent the peak will engage behind adjacent portions of the upper end of the wall 3 demarked by the lines for severance 26 and 21.

of said walls may flex upon the application of pressure, and the end closure toward which said peak is directed being displaced toward said peak so as to provide an abutment behind which portions of the pouring spout maybe engaged when said spout is collapsed.

may now be dispensed through the pouring spout, t a

2. In a tubular carton having a plurality of enclosing body walls and end closure means, a

pouring. spout construction comprising lines for severance formed in a body, wall intermediate the ends thereof and forming a peak directed toward an endof the-wall, the wall having score lines extending divergently away from said peak and defining three substantially triangular panels of a pouring spout, whereby pressure on portions of the adjacent body walls will cause said pouring spout to extend outwardly providing an access .opening to said carton, said adjacent bodywalls being in imperforate condition, and having slantwise score lines therein connecting the .ends of said lines for severance withthe far corners-of said walls to provide lines along which portions of said walls may flex upon the application of pressure, said first mentioned wall having a score line transversely-located and connecting the ends of said score lines defining the panels of the pouring spout, and the end closure toward which said peak 4 is directed being displaced toward said peak so as While I have shown the pouring spout as a construction formed in the wall 3, and while I prefer to form it in a' narrower wall wherefthere is a substantial difference in width betwenthe" pairs of'walls'of a tubular carton,it willbeundering spout in a carton of which the body consists stood. that it may be formed in anyone of-.- -the;,- walls of the cartozi, the adjacent walls ;being..

severance formed in abody ends thereoif and forming'apea .an end Io'f the- -"w'all'; the wall' having score lines extending divergently awayfrom'saidjpeak and defining threesubstantiall-y triangularfipanelsof a pouring spout, whereby-pressure on portions of to provide an abutment behind which portions of the pouring sp ut may be engaged when said spout is collapsed.

3. In a tubular carton having a plurality oi enclosing body walls-and end" closure meansg'a pouring spout construction comprising lines for l termediate, the

-, the adjacentv body wallsiiwill gcause -1said j pouring of four enclosing walls since it is applicable to,

cartons having a greater number-of body walls.

Yet again, while as illustrated I prefer to form my pouring spout as close to the top of the carton as is practicable, I may displace it somewhat from the top to accommodate special flap constructions where these are desired. Thus I may use my pouring spout construction in cartons having ears on the ends of the outermost top closure flap. Thus it will appear that my invention is not limited to use in cartons having the illustrated ordinary configuration of seal-end closure flaps.

Modifications may be made in my invention Without departing from the spirit of it. Having thus described my invention in an exemplary emspout toextend =outwardlyjiprovidingitan access 2 i I I opening to; said carton, said? adjacent 'body.. walls .being in'imperfora'te condition,- anc lihavi ng slant-,

wiseiscorelinestherein connecting the,endsgofjsaid lines for-severance with; thejnQfari,corners/of =said 1 i walls toaprovidelinespalong which portions ofsaid walls may'flex upon the application of pressure,

said first mentioned wall'havinga score line transversely located and connecting the ends of said score lines defining the panelsof the pouring spout, and also having diagonal-score lines extending from its upper corners to said lines for severance, and the end closure toward which said peak is directed being displaced toward said peak so 'as to provide an abutment behind which porbodiment, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a tubular carton having a plurality of enclosing body walls and end closure means, a pouring spout construction comprising lines .for severance formed in a bodywall intermediate the ends thereof and forming a peakv directed toward an-end of thewalL-Tthe-walP'having-score.lines extending divergently'away from said; peak and defining threesubstantially triangularypanels-of apouring spout, whereby pressure on portionsof the adjacent body walls will causetsaid pouring spout to extend outwardly providing an access opening to said carton, said adjacent body walls being in imperforate condition, and having slant- Wise score lines therein connecting the ends of said lines for severance with the far corners of said walls to provide lines along which portions tions of the pouring spout may be engaged when said spout is collapsed.

WILLIAM A. RINGLER.

. REFERENCES CITED plThe" following :referenlces-are of record ,in the I ille of thispatent:

- y UNITED STATES PATENTS 'K' Number P'Name- Y 2;097;647f.f" -Scott 4 2,288,042 "Spilman -:"2,323,'505 Wilcox. n

- roamdnrm'nnrs a Number v V Country Date 404,026 Great Britain Jan. 8, 1934 rectedtoward 

